#040-16 Naval Academy and City of Annapolis to Celebrate Navy's 241st Birthday

The U.S. Naval Academy and the City of Annapolis will celebrate the Navy’s 241st birthday Oct. 9 – 14 with events throughout the weekend and Navy birthday specials throughout downtown Annapolis. (The U.S. Navy’s birthday is Oct. 13.)

The annual Navy birthday cake cutting ceremony will take place during noon meal in King Hall at the Naval Academy Thursday, Oct. 13. This ceremony is a long-standing tradition within the Brigade of Midshipmen, with the oldest and youngest midshipmen initiating the first cut. This event is closed to the public. Media seeking to cover this event should contact Naval Academy Public Affairs at mediarelations@usna.edu or 410-293-2292.

The Naval Academy and the City of Annapolis will also come together for a Navy and Marine Corps Birthday breakfast celebration at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17. This year’s event honors women leaders across the community. The event is not open to the public and is invite only. Guests of honor include Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter and Naval Academy Commandant Col. Stephen Liszewski. This year’s guest speaker is Naval Academy alumnus, retired Navy captain and 15-year Naval Academy faculty member Ms. Allison Webster-Giddings. Media seeking to cover this event should contact Rhonda Wardlaw at rwardlaw@annapolis.gov.

The Naval Academy will host Jewish, Catholic and Protestant Navy birthday religious services beginning Friday evening. The following services are open to the public:

A Catholic Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, in the Naval Academy Chapel and a Protestant service held in the Chapel at 11 a.m.

Shabbat service will be held Friday, Oct. 14, at 7:15 p.m. in the Levy Center’s Jewish Chapel.

The U.S. Naval Academy Band’s Brass Quintet will perform on the steps of the Naval Academy Chapel at 10 a.m. in between Catholic and Protestant services.

Visitors to the Naval Academy may enter through Gate 3 (Maryland Avenue) or Gate 1 (at the intersection of King George Street and Randall Street) and will be required to show a picture ID. All bags are subject to search. Drivers without a Department of Defense I.D. are not permitted on the Naval Academy grounds; however, handicapped visitors with proper decals are permitted after a vehicle inspection.

For more information about the Naval Academy, visit www.usna.edu or the Naval Academy’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USNavalAcademy.